Path to Endowment CIO: Sloan, Columbia, or SOM
Hello, I am an incoming analyst in financial sponsors at a "top" (cringey saying it, but clarifies my situation) investment bank. Longer term I am very interested in working at an endowment. I believe it is a great way to provide value to a very important type of institution (fully subscribe to education being the best investment). I have met with my own university's CIO / head of the endowment and the late David Swenson got me into finance.
Current path: Semi-target (PKB, lot of involvement, and 3.9+ GPA, 720 GMAT) double major in math and economics [very quant and coding heavy] -> FSG @ BAML, JPM, etc ->??? -> large university or ivy endowment (hopefully)
Which MBA will best position me to exit b-school and enter (university) endowment management?
Current thinking:
SOM-> (Pro) MBAs can work with the endowment (which is hands down one of the best in the world thanks to Swenson) although since the Masters in Asset Management I think the number of spots have decreased. (Con) no deferred program so I cannot apply right now.
Columbia: They have a deferred MBA program which means I get to apply now. The value investing program is second to none as far as specialized programs. Additionally, I ended up writing my thesis on a topic I got into an argument with a CBS MBA in the value program. (Con) There is no guarantee that I will get into the program, and - as stupid and illogical as it sounds - I kind of want my MBA experience to be outside of NYC.
Sloan: Deferred program for up to 5 years. Very quant heavy and I could take some engineering classes and work on my algo skills.
P.S. Tuck: I really want to go to Tuck. My parents met and were married there. Incredible campus and love the small cohort size. I just do not know how it stacks up with programming / alumni in the space (plus the FoF, capital allocation, or overall asset management spaces).
These schools are no brainers if I get in: HBS (1), S GSB (2), Wharton (3), Booth (4).